Monday, March 11, 2019

State toxicologists maintain dioxin exposure near Riverside Park “unlikely” harmful to people

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) Dioxin exposure in the Riverside Park
area of Wausau is unlikely to be harmful to people, according to a letter
issued to city leaders by a toxicologist with the Wisconsin Department of
Health Services.

The letter was sent in February in response to comments by
an independent toxicologist from Virginia used by ‘Citizens for a Clean Wausau’
to investigate dioxin exposure risk in the area of Thomas Street from First
Avenue to the Wisconsin River.

The independent toxicologist asked the state toxicologists
to explain why they did not mention cancer risk in their initial report filed
in May, 2018, that analyzed soil tests and found no significant health risk for
residents or park users.

The letter, authored by state toxicologist Clara Jeong,
states that adding the factor of cancer risk has not changed her original
findings.

“The addition of the cancer risk assessment does not change
our conclusion that the level of dioxins found in the soil is unlikely to cause
harm to residents in the area,” said Jeong in the letter.

Jeong states however that the Department of Health Services
recommends further testing to better understand the potential health impact in
the community.